CR84FN16 ...

... our colours for this week's challenge at CR84FN are soft and sophisticated - at least I think they are!!  Pretty, feminine colours - light pink, medium violet and grey.  Our inspiration photos are from A Creative Mint - I just love that vase of peonies!!

I'm trying to be organised with my card making this year - and I thought these colours would be perfect for a Mother's Day card.  Here in the UK, Mother's Day is not a fixed date at it is in the US.  Mothering Sunday, as it is often called, is celebrated on the fourth Sunday in Lent - so the date moves about a bit!!  And this year it falls on Sunday 3rd April - so I've a good head start this year :))

I started off with a piece of white vellum with a soft grey design on it.  I coloured the back of the vellum with a prisma pencil (raspberry) and used oil to spread the pigment evenly over the back of the vellum.  I then used one of my (new) Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page sets (can't remember the name) to make a lovely border.  Using the Spellbinders large octagon dies I cut out a toning paper mat and the flower image.   I edged the flower cutout with silver pen.  The flowers were stamped with London Fog as I wanted a soft, subtle image.  I added colour with shimmer chalks - two shades of pink and very light greyish green for the leaves and stems.  Finally, I added a greeting which I coloured with the two shades of pink chalk. 

Stamps:  Oriental Peony from a QVC set
Inks:  Versamark; Memento - London Fog
Papers & Vellum:  Lawrence Llewellyn-Bowen - Venaissance
Spellbinders:  Lg Octagons (S4-185) dies # 4 and #5
Accessories:  Craftwork cards - greeting; Martha Stewart punches; Pebbles Inc chalks; Prisma pencil

I was left with a beautiful piece of paper with hole in it!!  I decided to use this on another card.  Using the technique explained above, I coloured another piece of vellum and placed this behind the cutout.  Then I attached both layers to a piece of silver holographic card from my scrap box.  Also in my scrap box was a rose that I'd previously stamped but not used.  I coloured it with Promarkers and then sprayed it with Cosmic Shimmer silver - such a pretty subtle shine!  I stuck this to the centre of the card.  Finally I added a couple of flourishes to the top corners of the card and embossed them with detail silver, and added a greeting at the foot of the card - also embossed.

I really love this card!  I opened the card and discovered that I'd stamped it upside down!!  It opens the wrong way round.  How daft is that?  Oh well, never mind!!  All is not lost - I'll simply cut the front off and mount it on a larger square card!  There are no mistakes in crafting - just happy accidents :))

Stamps:  Waltzingmouse - Roses in Bloom, Faux Fun Circles, Fancy Phrases
Inks:  Versamark; Memento - Tuxedo Blace
Papers & Vellum:  Lawrence Llewellyn-Bowen - Venaissance
Spellbinders:  Lg Octagons (S4-185) die #5
Accessories:  Promarkers; Prisma pencil; card from stash

Full details of the challenge can be found at CR84FN.  The CR84FN Design Team and our Guest Designer, Stella Schenkel, have come up with some wonderful cards to inspire you - check out their blogs:

Sue

Meredith

Andrea

Stephanie

Suzanne

Heather

Mona
Lisa

This has turned out to be an essay - thanks for staying with me.  I can't wait to see your designs - have fun!!  I'll be back tomorrow with more cards to share!!